North Billerica, MA - July 7, 2016 --- Passport Systems, Inc. today released a new installment of The Passport Podcast, a series of discussions with Dr. Robert Ledoux, the company’s Founder, CEO, and Director. This installment features a conversation with Dr. Ledoux discussing the company’s SmartShield™ Network, the cutting-edge system designed to keep people, communities, and property safer by deterring and detecting radioactive materials and dirty bombs.

The system is a network of small gamma-radiation detectors, each about the size of a deck of cards, which collect radiation data in real time and wirelessly connect to smartphones. Law enforcement and first responders wear the detectors on their belts and carry the phones, while collecting data on background radiation. If a detector identifies gamma radiation, it sends an alert to all other smartphones in the network, as well as a central command station, and displays the GPS coordinates to first responders.

The SmartShield system was deployed at last year’s NASCAR race in New Hampshire, the NCAA Men’s Final Four Basketball Championship, and other major events.

"It is very difficult to detect illicit radioactive sources in an urban environment because they may produce a very small signal against the natural background, particularly if shielded," Dr. Ledoux said. "The SmartShield network is a compact and scalable system of radiation sensors that are networked together to identify radioactive sources. The system's flexibility makes it as useful for a HAZMAT team as it does for first responders."

The Passport Podcast is committed to bringing listeners the latest news on radiation detection technology, and emerging CBRNe threats around the globe. The SmartShield podcast episode is available here. Hear the first episode on radioactive materials and dirty bombs here.

“We believe the SmartShield system is the new generation of intelligent network sensors,” Dr. Ledoux said.

The Passport Podcast is also delivered via email. Contact Michael K. Frisby at 202-625-4328 or mike@frisbyassociates.com to schedule media interviews with Dr. Ledoux or to be added to the email subscriber list.

About Passport SystemsPassport Systems was founded to develop and commercialize new technologies to address the threats facing the world in the aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Founded by a team of MIT technologists and entrepreneurs, Passport Systems has proudly developed two cutting-edge product lines: The SmartScan 3D™ Automated Cargo Inspection System, based on nuclear resonance fluorescence technology, and the SmartShield™ Networked Radiation Detection System, using advanced data fusion algorithms. For further details on Passport Systems and its products and services, visit www.passportsystems.com, and follow us on Twitter at @PassportSys.